Hand-bag.



WITNESSES {z Barman ATTORNEYS COLUMBIA PLAN c.

Patented Sept. 24,1912.

HERMAN COHN AND PHILIP BERMAN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

HAND-BAG.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 24,1912.

Application filed March 27, 1912. Serial No. 686,568.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, HERMAN CoHN, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of the city of New York, borough of Manhattan, in the countyand State of New York, and PHILIP BERMAN, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of Brooklyn, inthe county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new andImproved Hand- Bag, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription. 7 I

Our invention is an improvement in that class of hand-bags which areprovided with pivoted U-shaped clips or clasps adapted to hold the jawsof the bags securely closed when the latter are suspended by the handle.

Our invention is embodied in the construction, arrangement, andcombination of parts hereinafter described, whereby the clasps arepivoted to one of the jaws and held from sliding laterally by a loosesleeve applied to the pivots.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part ofthis speoification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the views, and in which Figure 1 is a sideview of a bag constructed and arranged in accordance with the presentinvention; Fig. 2 is a detail view, on enlarged scale, of a cornerfragment of a bag constructed and arranged in accordance with thepresent invention; and Fig. 3 is a detail top view, on enlarged scale,of an end fragment of the frame of the bag.

As seen in the accompanying drawings, the bag A is of any suitableconstruction, and is provided with a frame B, formed of two sectionspivotally connected, each section being provided with a latch member G,each of which in operation is forced past the other, to be held by theresiliency of the frame in relatively locked position, substantially asshown in Fig. 1 of drawings. Heretofore, bags of this character havebeen provided with flexible bail handles, the handles secured by loopedends formed thereon extending through rings or other similar devices onthe frame B of the bag A. These bags have been subjected to pilfering,the method of the pilferer being usually to press the latch members C,C, to open the bag, this operation necessitating no violent action suchas would disturb the person carrying the bag. Then the members C, C arereleased, one side of the frame B and portion of the bag connectedtherewith will separate from the other section of the frame, and exposethe interior of the bag, so that the same may be rifled. Again, a defectin the service which has been obtained from bags as formerly constructedhas been in that the owner of the bag fails to fasten the latch members,merely closing them temporarily. When thereafter the bag is jarred bythe ordinary use in carriage, the frame sections separate, leaving thebag open and the contents exposed to sight or pilfering.

To overcome the above objections, the handle 8 of the presentconstruction is provided with loops 9, through which are extended crossbars 10 of auxiliary locking clips, which are pivotally mounted upon theframe by means of pivot pins 11.

The auxiliary locking clips above referred to, embody small side plates12, extended, as shown in the drawings, to the side of the pins 11oppositethat in which the cross bar 10 is disposed. The cross bar andplates 12 are integrally constructed, said plates being perforated toreceive the pins 11. The latter pass through perforated lugs 13 formedon one side of the frame B, as shown best in Fig. 3 of drawings, and, asthe plates 12 of the clips are designed to rest at opposite sides of theclosed members of the frame B, filling sleeves or thimbles 14 areprovided to extend between one of the plates 12 and the lugs 13. Thelength of the latter does not exceed the width or thickness of the jawto which they are attached.

When in operation, and as shown by full lines in Fig. 1 of drawings, theweight of the bag A rests upon the handle 8, the locking clips arerotated upon the pins 11, to dispose the plates 12, 12 at opposite sidesof the frame B. In this position, it will be seen, the bag A or frame Bcannot be opened in the manner as above outlined, for the reason thatthe plates 12 restrain the sections of the frame B. It becomes necessaryto lift the weight of the bag A from the handle 8, and this lifting ofthe bag will attract the attention of the owner, causing detection ofany attempt at robbery.

It is to prevent the imposition of any unusual strain on the lockingclips due to the owner of the bag endeavoring to force apart the latchesC, C while the plates 12 of the clips are in position to lock the frameB,

that we have provided in the handle 8 a light fiat spring 15, as bestseen in Fig. 2 of drawings. The spring 15 normally disposes the handlein position as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 1, in which position ofthe handle, the clips are rotated on the pins 11 to lift the plates 12from engagement with the frame B. This operation is auto-- matic, andoccurs whenever the bag is rested on a table or shelf, or lifted byhand. In this manner is avoided the danger incident to the endeavor toopen the bag when the clips are in looking position.

Having thus described our invention, we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent A hand-bag having hinged metal jaws ing pivotspassing through the said lugs which thus constitute a bearing therefor,and a loose sleeve applied to thepivots and its ends abutting theaforesaid lugs and the adjacent arms of the clasps, as and for thepurpose specified.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HERMAN COHN. PHILIP HERMAN. WVitnesses:

E. F. MURDooK, PHILIP D. Roma-mus.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, 1). G.

